Sold to me as a. elizabethae; having trouble confirming. Help appreciated!

[tperk17]

Sorry in advance for image quality, he’s (I think it’s a he) spending a lot of time in seclusion as he hasn’t fully settled into the tank yet.

 

[MacZ]

It is a male, but the brightly coloured rock in the back might be a problem as a backdrop. Fish brighten up or darken their colours depending on surroundings.

If this is a holey rock I'd remove it, as limestone raises hardness and you will mostly want softwater (barely any detectable hardness) for these fish and these rocks are a potential death trap. Had cichlids chasing each other until one got stuck more than once.

 

[Frank Hättich]

It's an iniridae-group species, so for sure not elizabethae. If it's a male, there are not many species in this group with a rounded caudal fin, to my knowledge merely A. iniridae, A. sp. D51 and A. sp. Z12. Do you know the catch location? Did it come with elizabethae?

 

[tperk17]

It is a male, but the brightly coloured rock in the back might be a problem as a backdrop. Fish brighten up or darken their colours depending on surroundings.

If this is a holey rock I'd remove it, as limestone raises hardness and you will mostly want softwater (barely any detectable hardness) for these fish and these rocks are a potential death trap. Had cichlids chasing each other until one got stuck more than once.

Appreciate the response. It is sandstone I believe — but I’ll link into that. I’m not opposed to removing it if needed.

Most of the tank is more planted, and the rocky hardscapes are mostly dark in color. This is the lightest rock in the tank.

 

[tperk17]

It's an iniridae-group species, so for sure not elizabethae. If it's a male, there are not many species in this group with a rounded caudal fin, to my knowledge merely A. iniridae, A. sp. D51 and A. sp. Z12. Do you know the catch location? Did it come with elizabethae?

I do not know catch location; to my knowledge it is tank-bred, but I will ask the LFS that sold it if they know.

I do believe it is a subadult at the very least, possibly juvenile, as it is quite small. Maybe 1.25-1.5” at most. Not sure if that changes the calculus at all.

And I think you may be right about iniridae. Wow I hadn’t even considered that. I will look into them more.

 

[Frank Hättich]

And I think you may be right about iniridae. Wow I hadn’t even considered that. I will look into them more.

If it is iniridae it must show the typical abdominal bars at times:

 

[tperk17]

If it is iniridae it must show the typical abdominal bars at times:

View attachment 18734

Here’s a bit better of a photo for identification purposes. Fins more extended and a clearer view of the caudal fin shape. Some of those vertical bars I think are slightly visible here; at times they’re more visible.

 

[Frank Hättich]

Some of those vertical bars I think are slightly visible here; at times they’re more visible.

Usually they are quite pronounced when the fish is stressed, aggressive or displaying - but only below the lateral band. If so, it's iniridae.

 

[tperk17]

Usually they are quite pronounced when the fish is stressed, aggressive or displaying - but only below the lateral band. If so, it's iniridae.

I should mention this is a juvenile at about 1-1.25” long (2.5-3cm).

The vertical bars are visible above and below the band. When he’s displaying or engaging in a little territorial aggression he will show them more. He showed them especially while in transit when purchased from the shop. So you’re right that it happens during stress/aggression/displaying, but if the bars appear above the lateral line as well, does that potentially rule out iniridae?